Verizon to Open Cell Network to Others' Phones

By

Amol Sharma and

Dionne Searcey

Updated Nov. 28, 2007 12:01 a.m. ET

Facing growing pressure from regulators, consumers and potential rivals, Verizon Wireless will soon allow wireless customers on its network to use a wide array of phones and mobile devices bought elsewhere.

The change, which will take effect by the middle of next year, is a big shift for Verizon, the nation's No. 2 carrier by subscribers, and it moves the U.S. wireless industry a step closer to the model in much of the rest of the world, where consumers can generally purchase devices independent of carriers and then plug...